Residents of Nduma Village in Mwea East, Kirinyaga County, were left shaken on Friday morning after the body of an unidentified man was found floating in the Nyamindi River.
Villagers discovered the body while planting crops along the riverbanks, as heavy rains continued in the region.
According to Gitari Gititu, the village in-charge, locals from the other side of the river alerted him after noticing the body.
“I was called by the villagers who informed me that they had seen a human body. When I arrived, I confirmed it was that of a man, and I immediately notified the authorities,” Mr. Gitari recounted.
The circumstances surrounding the man’s death remain unclear, but villagers suspect foul play. Peter Munene, a resident, noted that the man was wearing three layers of clothing, including a reflector jacket, suggesting he might have been a boda boda rider.
“We suspect the man may have been killed elsewhere and dumped here. The area is bushy, and we hope detectives will uncover more details during the investigation,” Munene said.
This discovery has raised safety concerns among residents, as similar incidents have occurred in the area before.
“This is not the first incident in this river, and we don’t understand why people are being killed and dumped here,” lamented Mary Wanjiru, another villager.
The body was retrieved by local residents and police officers, who transported it to Kerugoya Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination and identification.
Authorities from Wang’uru Police Station are leading the investigation and have urged anyone with information to come forward as they work to unravel the mystery behind the recurring incidents at Nyamindi River.
The residents of Nduma Village are calling for heightened security in the area and hope for swift action to prevent further loss of life.
